Iowa, Iowa....and more Iowa

This past weekend was the first Iowa trip for Ari.  I say "first" because I'm from there...and all my family lives there.....and all my "old" friends live there....and I have to take Ari to the State Fair.  And, well, Iowa will always be a big part of my life, so there will always be "Iowa" trips.  So here are a few of the many people Ari met for the first time -- all very close friends and family.  He was a huge hit, loved on by so many, and was SUCH a trooper as we made our Tour of Iowa and also during the long trek from Springfield and back.  Really, he couldn't have been any better.  Roger and I are officially totally spoiled by this little boy.  I don't know -- either he's going to be hell on wheels when he's a teenager (likely) or we're in for a ride with Baby #2 (also likely).  

Speaking of Baby #2, many people have asked us when we're going to start the adoption process again.  Yes, we plan on adopting from Ethiopia again.  That is a tentative plan, of course, because no one knows what the future holds.  We all know what happens when we "plan" on things happening.  With that being said, for now we need to get off this adoption train for a while and just enjoy our little man before we start the all-consuming chaos again.  Although I'm hoping the second time around won't be quite so brutal now that I'm a mommy and don't have all of that built up momminess waiting to explode out of me like I did waiting for Ari.  AND we aren't even close to being done with Ari's adoption yet.  U.S. Customs screwed up in D.C. when we landed coming home by telling us we didn't need to go to secondary customs.  Well, that was horribly wrong because in secondary customs they take a picture of the baby that then is used for their permanent residence card.  Well, guess what?  Now we have to drive all the way to St. Louis for a 2-minute appointment for Ari to get his picture taken.  If the customs employee would have known what was up, this would have been taken care of at the D.C. airport and we could have avoided this little trip altogether.  And we still have to do the readoption process....and legally change his name...and get Ari a Social Security card....and file an N600 for a Certificate of Citizenship.  See?  We are going to need a little paperwork break before we start Adoption #2.  

Now that I've totally gotten off subject, enjoy the pictures below!!  And keep voting for Ari's picture (see previous post)!!  It will pay for some of his college education if he wins (no, not cash -- a scholarship)!!    

Grandma Erin, (my) cousin Matt, Matt's little boy Caleb, (my) Aunt Lori

Ari and his Grandma Erin

A five-generation picture with my 98-year-old great-grandma

(My) Uncle Todd -- yes, Ari wore an Iowa shirt while in Iowa.  When in Rome.....

(My) Cousin Ashley

The proud grandmas

Ari and his second cousin Caleb swinging in the "hammock"

Sara, Griffen, and Ari